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PTI’s Role as Junior Partner to ISI in Witch-Hunts and Repression

The PTI government of Mr Imran
Khan appears to be doing everything he promised he as Mr Clean was fighting
against: media censorship, suppression of freedom of expression, and witch
hunts against opposition.

According to author and
journalist Zahid
Hussain “Few leaders have seen such a steep fall from a high pedestal
within months of coming to power. A panic-stricken prime minister seems to have
lost all sense of proportion. His most recent harangue in the National Assembly
and his midnight address to the nation leave one wondering about his
capabilities when it comes to navigating the country through the present
financial and political morass. It’s a Greek tragedy unfolding. It was
reminiscent of the sordid game that has long plagued Pakistani politics when
the prime minister recently met some opposition legislators reportedly willing
to cross the floor. A federal minister claims there were many more from Punjab
waiting in line to shift their political allegiance.”

According to
Husain, “Khan’s ‘Wasim Akram-plus’ seems to have finally blossomed into a
fine craftsman engineering defections within the opposition ranks. Mean­while,
a dexterous provincial governor through a ‘magic wand’ is said to have won
enough numbers to change the PPP government in Sindh. “It’s a matter of time
when the PTI will form the government in the province,” boasted a federal
minister. What was unholy in the past has now been declared kosher under the
rule of a self-proclaimed crusader against corruption. It’s certainly not
awakening conscience that compels the opposition members to revolt against
their ‘corrupt’ party leaders. Those of us who are familiar with our sleazy
political culture know well how political engineering is done. There is no
difference between the infamous ‘Changa Manga’ episode and the ‘Banigala’
meeting though the mechanics may vary. It is so pathetic to see PTI ministers
hailing the turncoats selling their political loyalty.”

Finally he warns
“One lesson of history that Khan should have learnt is that neither
horse-trading nor political witch-hunts can provide stability to the
government. It is a siege mentality that he needs to break for his own good.
Facing a vociferous opposition is also part of the democratic political
process.”